1xRUN Thru Interview
Waiting For His Pitch 3 by Nicholas Forker
1xRun: Tell us a little bit about this piece, when was the original drawn and created? What materials did you use?
Nicholas Forker: The original is graphite on mylar, these prints are silkscreen ink on paper finished with watercolor, acrylic, ink and spray paint. I have made a second version in August of 2012 which is for sale here on 1xRUN for $1,000.
1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
Nicholas Forker: This piece came about as part of a fascination with astronauts as a perfect semiotic metaphor for the American narrative in the late 20th century. I wanted to speak also to the disappearing role of the hero and the relationships between father and son. This image was the first piece I ever created in ballpoint on mylar. It was the first image I really gave my all to. It got into a group show and sold almost immediately. Because of this piece I was offered a solo show in Chelsea. So this piece is very special to me as it marked the beginning of my adult art career. I have re-created it here in graphite on mylar, and am offering this print run because I would say it is my most iconic image to date.
1xRun: How long did the piece take?
Nicholas Forker: This piece has taken 32 years.
1xRun: What is unique about this piece?
Nicholas Forker: Every piece will be hand finished. I will make each piece unique by painting back in over top of the print. Each piece will be an original. This is a very special piece in that it is my most iconic and first ever foray into the ballpoint medium. I do not know how much longer I will be making astronaut pictures, so this piece is both the alpha and omega of this body of work.
1xRun: Describe the piece/print in one gut reaction word.
Nicholas Forker: American.
1xRun: When did you first start making art? What was your first piece?
Nicholas Forker: I have been making drawings since I could hold a pencil. I never stopped. My first piece? Impossible to remember. My mother tells me about my having colored her baseboards in with a permanent marker. Also one time I colored my then infant brother’s head in blue with a crayola marker. I was nearly a third of the way through when I was discovered, I simply said… “what mama? smurf”
1xRun: What artists inspired you early on? What artists inspire you now?
Nicholas Forker: All of my favorite artists early on were those with wild imagination geared towards children. Jim Henson, James Thurber, Theodore Geisel, Shel Silverstein, Frank Oz, Maurice Sendak, etc. My favorite artists now are my friends. I think what is more important to me now is that they are positive people with a tireless work ethic. Gaia, Judith Supine, Jenny Morgan, ELLE, Tadashi Moriyama, Federico Solmi, Nicola Verlato and DDOCK. If you can manage it, grab some work from any/all of these people.
Gaia
Jim Henson + Friends
1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?
Nicholas Forker: I do listen to music. Almost constantly. Lately I have been listening to more chill stuff like Lower Dens, Destroyer, Bodies of Water. But then there is always Bowie, Beatles, Dylan in heavy rotation. Then some Die Antwoord to liven things up a bit.
1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?
Nicholas Forker: Louis C.K.
1xRun: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?
Nicholas Forker: Henri Toulouse Lautrec, I think the time period would be amazing. Plus i would stick up for him and tell him not to drink so much.
1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it? What was the last piece of art that you bought?
Nicholas Forker: I bought a hand-finished David Choe “City Girl” print from Jonathan LeVine. I do still have it. The last piece that I bought an original “paper airplane” BLOKE piece on panel from Factory Fresh.
City Girl by David Choe
1xRun: What else do you have in the works?
Nicholas Forker: I will be exhibiting at SCOPE Miami this year December 3-9th with Victori Contemporary.
1xRun: Where else can people find you ?
Nicholas Forker: Website – Facebook – Twitter – Flickr – Instagram
-1xRUN